Savarkar defamation: Rahul Gandhi claims complainant is close relative of Nathuram Godse, seeks lineage disclosure

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has filed an application before a special MP/MLA court in Pune, alleging that the complainant in the Vinayak Savarkar defamation case, Satyaki Savarkar, has deliberately concealed material facts regarding his maternal lineage — specifically, that he is the grandson of Gopal Vinayak Godse, the younger brother of Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse..Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Amol Shriram Shinde on Wednesday directed Satyaki to respond to the allegations and posted the matter for further hearing on June 12.Satyaki in his defamation suit had accused Gandhi of making defamatory remarks against the Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar during a March 2023 speech in London. Satyaki claimed that Gandhi had cited an incident from Savarkar’s writings in which the latter had described an assault on a Muslim man as "pleasurable".Satyaki denied the existence of such a passage in Savarkar's writings and moved the Court seeking Gandhi’s conviction under Section 500 (defamation) of the Indian Penal Code along with compensation under Section 357 CrPC..In response to the same, Gandhi has now alleged that Satyaki has “deliberately, systematically, very brilliantly avoided, and suppressed” disclosing his maternal family tree, which establishes a direct familial link to the Godse family which is pertinent in deciding the defamation case.“As per information, mother of complainant late Smt. Himani Ashok Savarkar is daughter of Gopal Vinayak Godse, younger brother of Nathuram Vinayak Godse, who killed father of nation Mahatma Gandhi on 30/01/1948 and was hanged along with his accomplice Narayan Apte on 15/11/1949,” Gandhi has stated. Gandhi's application highlights that Himani Ashok Savarkar, the complainant's mother, was not only Gopal Godse’s daughter and Nathuram Godse’s niece but also an active political figure associated with Hindutva organisations such as Abhinav Bharat and Akhil Bhartiya Hindu Mahasabha.According to Gandhi, the Godse and Savarkar families share ideological and blood ties, and this historical connection is crucial to assessing the reputation and legacy of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, which lies at the heart of the defamation claim.“That, it is submitted that, the family Tree of complainant from ‘Maternal Parents’ is very much important because the grandfather of complainant from ‘Maternal Parents’ Gopal Vinayak Godse and Nathuram Vinayak Godse are real brothers and having history, blood relation with Vinayak Damodar Savarkar family, also main accused in Murder of Mahatma Gandhi.”.Gandhi has also asserted that Satyaki's familial association holds significant relevance for the court in evaluating whether defamation occurred or not.“These are the important historical movements behind this case to decide the reputation, defamation and contribution, status, thoughts and image of the Vinayak Damodar Savarkar in Indian history.”Although Satyaki has submitted two versions of his paternal family tree in the court record, Gandhi contends that no effort has been made to disclose or explain his maternal lineage, despite its legal and historical relevance. .Gandhi has sought a direction from the court to Satyaki to file an affidavit disclosing his maternal family tree. Should he fail to do so, Gandhi has requested that the matter be referred for further investigation under Section 173(8) CrPC to Vishrambag Police Station, Pune.Besides this Gandhi has also filed another application accusing complainant Satyaki of perjury, defamation, and contempt of court. It is his case that Savarkar filed a false and misleading application on May 9, wrongly claiming that Gandhi violated bail conditions.The Court has sought Satyaki's reply on both the applicationsEarlier this month, the court had allowed Gandhi's request to convert the case from a summary trial to a summons trial, a procedural change that permits the introduction of broader documentary and historical evidence — a move Gandhi justified by claiming his remarks were based on verifiable historical sources..Advocate Milind Pawar appeared for Gandhi.Advocate Sangram Kolhatkar appeared for Savarkar..Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.